The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

142 Credibility of the Gospel History.
vices for the people of Alexandria, both christians and others;
when Bruchiuni, or Pyruchium, one of the quarters of that
city, in which too was the citadel, suft'ered under the extremities
of a siege, Anatolius Avas shut up in Bruchium
Eusebius Avas without, among* the Romans, the besiegers.
One of those services is particularly related by' our Ecclesiastical
historian, to whom I refer. Anatolius had the better
opportunity to be useful to the public by means of the
high esteem he Avas in: for Eusebius says, that'' Avith universal
consent he had pre-eminence above all the magistrates
or senators of Alexandria, that were in Bruchium.
Learned men' find no small difficulty in settling the time
of this siege. Tillemont thought it to be in the reign of
Gallienus in 263 or 264; Basnage" in 262 or 263; whose
opinions seem to me more probable than theirs Avho place
it later.
Soon after the siege was over, Anatolius" left Alexandria.
Our historian tells us ' that? Theotecnus, bishop of Csesa-
' rea in Palestine, ordained Anatolius bishop, intending that
' he should succeed him ; and it is certain that for a short time
' they both presided together in that church : but Anatolius,
' going to Antioch to be present at the council called upon
' the occasion of Paul of Samosata, as he was passing through
' Laodicea, Avas detained there by the brethren, Eusebius
' being dead.'
It is reasonable to think that our historian must mean the
last synod in the affair of Paul, Avhich Avas held in 269.
After this he says nothing farther of Anatolius. But here
he died ; for, as the historian adds, he'" Avas succeeded by
Stephen, the last bishop of Laodicea, before the persecution
of Diocletian began.
' Anatolius,' says^ Eusebius, ' did notAvrite many books
* however, from those Avhich have come down to us may be
' perceived both his eloquence and his extensive knowledge
' and learning,particularly from his Avork concerning Easter.*
' L. vii. c. 32. p. 285, tt 286. A. '' Mvpiag fitv hv thSs km
aXKaQ apiTtiac iv ry Kar A\t^avSpitav th IIvjOSxeis TtoKiopKiq. nvi]fioviv>i(nv'
q.Ti Tuv tv rtXii Tipovoniac e^aipsTn Trpog aTravTwv 7]Ki-(0[itvs' ib. p. 285. A.
' Vid. Pagi in Baron. Ann. 2G9. n. ix. x. xi. " See his Hist, des
Emp. in Gallien.art. 12. T. iii. P. iii. p. 974, 975. et p. 1175.
" Basn. Ann. 262. n. iii. " Eus. ib. p. 286. B.
P Terif) irpwTOQ— QeoTtKvOQ ^^sipac tig tTn(TKoiry)v firirtOuKE. ib. p. 288. A.
•I Eus. ib. A. B.
" Kai rs Ai'aroXi« ^£ tov (iinv fiiraWa^cn'TOc,
Tt]e £(C£t(T£ TTCtpOlKiaC V'TUTOQ TWV TTpO CllJlJjlii KaOlTClTai 2r£0rtVOf. lb. p. 288. B.
° Ov fitv sv taTTs^uaOt) -KKwra np AvaTo\ui> avyypafi^iaTa' roaavra 5' iig
r^jiag i\i]\vOe, ti wv avrn KarctjiaOuv dvvarov o/in to, ti \oyiov kcu iroKvfiaQtg'
IV oiQ fiaXiTa TCI TTipi th iraaxc- oo'iavTci Trapi-iiffiv. ib. p. 28G. B. C.
i
; :